Statue of Matthew Boulton, James Watt, and William Murdoch by William Boyle situated on Broad Street, Birmingham. This gilded bronze statue, known as the ‘Golden Boys’ (and also the ‘Carpet Salesmen’!) honours Matthew Boulton, James Watt and William Murdoch. They are shown studying steam engine plans. Together these three revolutionised the steam engine – the technology that would literally drive the industrial revolution.
This gilded bronze statue, known as the ‘Golden Boys’ (and also the ‘Carpet Salesmen’!) honours Matthew Boulton, James Watt and William Murdoch. They are shown studying steam engine plans. Together these three revolutionised the steam engine – the technology that would literally drive the industrial revolution. While living in Glasgow, James Watt (1736-1819) had devised a number of ingenious improvements to the simple steam engine, making it more efficient and adapting it so it could be used to turn wheels, but had struggled to sell his ideas. Matthew Boulton (1728-1809) was a wealthy businessman and manufacturer. He agreed to fund and develop Watt’s steam engines. They went into partnership together in Birmingham in 1775. Two years later, a young William Murdoch (1754-1839) walked the 300 miles (480 km) to Birmingham from his home in Ayrshire, to ask for a job with Boulton and Watt. Murdoch played a key role in installing and improving the Boulton and Watt Steam Engines and eventually became a partner in the company in 1810. The company was extremely successful, going on to supply its engines to mines and factories all over Britain and as far as Russia and Greece. The three men were members of the famous Lunar Society of Birmingham – so called from 1775 because it met each month during the full moon. This highly influential society included leading scientists, industrialists, philosophers and intellectuals of the day. Their common goal was the collaborative application of science to help people and make the world a better place. Their meetings (often at Boulton’s house) involved lively discussions and experiments and the sharing of discoveries, inventions and ideas – from early electricity to how to measure the size of the earth. By working together they were able to push forward, innovate and apply revolutionary ideas and techniques in science, agriculture, manufacturing, mining and transport that would change the world.
Size: 5472px × 3648px
Location: Birmingham, England, UK
Photo credit: © David Warren / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: birmingham, boulton, boyle, boys, carpet, golden, industrial, james, matthew, murdoch, revolution., salesmen, sculptor, statue, watt, william
